The eyes are the windows to the soul, so they say. But what if those windows are looking a bit tired and bedraggled? Signs of aging and fatigue seem to show up around the eyes before they appear anywhere else, so it’s no wonder clients are flocking to the spa for treatments that target this critical area.

Hemp and cannabinoids (CBD) have created a buzz within the beauty industry recently. Hemp has a wide range of skin care benefits, including nourishing the body, making skin appear youthful, treating acne, reducing inflammation, and soothing irritated skin

Everything is there for us in nature, healing herbs, rebalancing minerals, warming spices, and vibrant flowers. When I create spa treatment rituals, spa menus or natural products, I look to nature and incorporate natural botanicals in conjunction with professional spa brands to create a totally holistic spa environment.

Tea tree oil has been used in the traditional medicine of the Aborigines of Australia for hundreds of years. Leaves from the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia, not the tree that produces black, green and oolong tea) were crushed to extract its oil and used to treat coughs and colds, or applied directly to the skin for wound healing.

There are an increasing number of spa products claiming to contain peptides, but what are they and what benefits do they have for your clients? We asked Natalie Pergar, Senior Product Education Specialist at Éminence Organic Skin Care, to break it down:

If the skin is our largest organ, it stands to reason that when something is amiss in the body, it shows on the skin. It also means that certain foods can have an effect on the skin, whether negative or positive. We are what we eat, essentially.

Mark Smith visits about 30 spas each year across the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, and has been reviewing spas since 2007. He is a writer and media consultant in the beauty and spa industry, and founded the website TheSpaMan.co.uk where he writes about products, spas and treatments.

While recent media attention has brought popularity to the treatment, the act of cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine dating back to the ancient Egyptians. Cupping occurs when a tool or cup is placed on the skin and forms a suction. This creates a vacuum and lifts the skin into the interior of the cup.

For those who crave esthetic improvement, there are several options: a change in diet, regular gym membership, or the more drastic option of plastic surgery. But for those who are hesitant to go under the knife, non-invasive medical spa treatments may be the next best choice.

Gone are the days when liposuction and plastic surgery were the only options for consumers looking to get rid of unwanted fat. These days, a client can pop into the spa for a quick non-invasive body sculpting treatment on their lunch hour and go right back to work, with no downtime required.

For spa clients who follow the principle of not putting anything on their bodies they wouldn’t also put in their mouths, honey-based skincare solutions seem like an obvious choice. Honey is delicious, packed with antioxidants, and has many benefits for the skin as well.

Rosewater is undoubtedly beauty’s magic potion, and it is remarkably versatile. Whether a spa client has oily, dry or combination skin, rosewater can easily be added to their beauty regimen. The natural properties of rosewater work to slow the production of oil and eliminate excess from the skin while helping to maintain its natural pH balance.

Scent is an important part of the spa experience because different scents have the power to affect us either negatively or positively. “The olfactory senses are very powerful,” says Zena Hallam, founder of Tazeka Aromatherapy.

Many seasonal trends that trickle down from fashion’s runways to the beauty counter are simply impractical for the everyday woman. Here are four goof-proof beauty trends to fall back on and how to wear them in order to embrace the playful drama of the season.

When spa clients come in for a beauty treatment, they may look to you as the spa therapist for a sustainable beauty routine that they can take with them when they leave. Makeup artist Stacey Camacho gives us some helpful tips about where to start.

Anyone who has suffered through a cold Canadian winter will tell you that the dry winter weather can wreak havoc the skin. That means the skin around the nails and cuticles can become dry and inflamed as well. Make sure the nail technicians at your spa have moisturizers on hand.

Thalassotherapy involves the use of ocean elements including whole raw seaweeds, ocean water, ocean clay and ocean minerals on the body, allowing absorption of important vitamins and minerals in a chelated form, for the purpose of achieving mind, body balancing and healing.

According to the Canadian Dermatology association, acne affects about 90 per cent of adolescents and 20 to 30 per cent of adults aged 20 to 40 years. Even with a large number of the population being impacted, there are still plenty of misconceptions.

Summer is the season for shorts and sandals and after a long winter, women across Canada are ready to pack up their parkas and pull out the poolside gear. Pedicures, body treatments, and various hair removal options are some of the most popular spa treatments in the summer...

Stress is a reaction to change that requires a physical, mental, or emotional response, and can be positive or negative. The human brain is constantly assessing threat in our lives for the purpose of survival, and that assessment of change determines our response. Expectations, history, knowledge, and environment all play a role here...

Wellness has been placed in the spotlight, for good reason. It’s the cornerstone for a healthy lifestyle and offers an endless list of benefits, but it’s also good for spa business. A 2010 survey showed that 91 per cent of industry respondents who incorporated wellness aspects...

The current nail art and gel polish trends are putting the finger on the pulse of the increasing popularity of manicures. More and more Canadians are sporting artistic designs and purchasing seasonal collections for decorative nails...

Imagine if you could change the underlying rate at which you age, so that you could enjoy not just a longer life, but a healthier one. Imagine if you could delay the onset of age-related chronic diseases and reduce the likelihood of living out your days in a nursing home...

The evolution of technology has resulted in the availability of treatments that are quick, effective and require little to no downtime. Historically, the first cosmetic laser treatments were highly effective but inaccessible to most people and required months to fully recover. With these advances.....

Good news! The recent explosion of made-for-men options means men don’t have to use their wives’ products any more. Male skincare is the fastest growing sector in the global beauty industry and is expected to keep growing through 2016*. Making room for some male-focused products in your retail....

The eyes are said to be the window to the soul, making the eyebrows their frame. And whether you’ve noticed it or not, the shape of these frames has evolved. Gone are the days of the super-tweezed brow. Today’s trend reflects a fuller, more natural look reminiscent of the 1980s Brooke Shields brow....

Your clients in their 60s and beyond are living life to the fullest and looking beautiful while doing it. Hollywood celebrities like Helen Mirren and Diane Keaton show us that with the right care, mature skin can have that beautiful glow and your 60-plus clients are finding fresh new ways to keep their skin looking as young as they feel...

Oxygen-based products have seen celebrities flocking to endorse the latest fad but these treatments might have some staying power. Oxygen has proven to be a powerful treatment in the effort to stave off the visual effects of aging...

People are more-than-ever seeking aesthetic treatments that are fast, effective, comfortable, and with minimal downtime. It should therefore be no surprise that injectable "fillers", such as Restylane and Juvederm, among others, have become increasingly popular in recent years...

Empowered by the wealth of experience and knowledge gained along the way, the over-50 crowd have the self-confidence and smarts to focus on what is truly important to them. Meanwhile, with so much going on, it's worthwhile to take the extra time for personal care, live a healthy lifestyle, and invest in longevity through wise, healthy choices...

They say the 30s are the new 20s. And indeed, the 30s crowd remains young at heart and on top of the latest trends (Shellac, anyone?). But a word to the wise: they may be looking for more targeted treatments for face and body...

Many people are confounded by the difference between a facial and a chemical peel. Most people recognize that facials are designed to provide deep cleansing and relaxation. However, chemical peels often conjure an episode of Sex and the City where Samantha's peel has nightmarish results...

From fun and flashy to sweet and sophisticated, young women in their twenties can channel a multitude of moods. Understanding this age group will allow you to recommend the best services and products. Twenties women are open to new trends and willing to experiment. Some may be trying to ward off early signs of aging...

While cleanse-exfoliate-moisturize is the basic skincare mantra, healthy, glowing skin requires more than a bar of soap and a dab of moisturizer. Regular treatments and supplements combined with a daily regimen of professionally recommended products will...

By now you have probably heard the term “medical aesthetics.” Though most of us are familiar with this term, many aestheticians are unaware of what a medical aesthetician does. A medical aesthetician specializes in advanced skin treatments. They typically...

More and more men are flocking to the spa. The word is out—men require just as much maintenance as women if they want to keep a healthy, youthful look as the years creep by. So what is making men today more likely to step into the spa or buy a handful of...

The holiday season is approaching and soon the stress of balancing gift-buying, parties and family get-togethers will overwhelm even the most dedicated spa-goer. Services, packages and products that relieve tension and rejuvenate winter skin will get...

Consumers are seeking natural ingredients, and products without preservatives or chemicals. They want to know what they are spreading onto and absorbing into their bodies. Spas carrying organic products today—products with identifiable, natural ingredients—are responding to consumer demand and...

The sun makes all life possible. Without it the planet would be a frozen, uninhabitable sphere blasting through space at more than 60,000 miles per hour. According to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Earth Observatory, the sun’s energy generates clouds, cleanses our water, produces plants, keeps the climate stable, and...

For many people, the fall is foreshadowing. The temperature drops, leaves dry out and float to the ground, flaking apart as they fall and crumble to nothing. As the winter cold that was hinted of in the fall closes in, human skin can go the way of the leaves. It dries out, cracks and causes discomfort for....

The thermometer plummets, the wind blows and our skin becomes red In winter, the production of sebum slows down, the hydrolipidic film on the surface is altered and becomes less effective as a barrier, leaving the upper layers of the epidermis—the Stratum corneum—without...

We all know winter weather can be hard on the skin, drawing out critical moisture. Many people don’t consider the fact that these dry conditions are also hard on other parts of the body, namely the finger and toe nails. According to the International Pedicure Association’s advisory board, winter....